Improved mouse-trap



prima one.

ANTHONY-c. DAVIS, AND HENRY s. rnosnor WATERTOWN, cornvncrr- ICUT, ASSIGNORS T0 DAVIS &WO0LSON, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVE!) MOUSE-TRAP.

lhe Schedule referred to Lu these Letters Patent and making' part of the same,

To all 'wh-omit may concem.

Be it known that we. ANTHONY G. DAVIS, and HENRY S. Fnos'r, of Watertown, in the county of Litchfield and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Mouse-Trap; and we do hereby declare that the following is a. full and exact description of the same, reference being had t9 the :tt-.companying drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to mouse-traps, and consists of certain improved features, hereinafter fully set forth.

Figure l is a perspective view of-my improved trap.

Figure 2 is a side elevation in partial section.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use our invention, we will now proceed tov describe fully its construction and operation.

The trap represented is of the ordinary circular form and construction, as usual in such traps.

The springs, three of which are shown, are of the Aform commonly used in this soit of trap, with the exception of the projection formed on the outer end, by binding the wire inthe shape of a loop, as clearly shown. y

Pivoted where the ordinary wire-lever is placed is aslotted-lever, of form shown in lign-1,. This lever is cut from metal plate, of thicknesssniicient tati'ord proper thickness.Y OneLend is turned over toform. a loop for the staple which holds it to the wood. The other end may bc plain, as shown at a', in' g. 1, or heut over, as at b, in fig. 1. In both cases the slot, closed at both en ds, incloses the loop on theend of the spring, which'loop vplays throughout its entire length as Vthe spring rises or falls, action ofthe spring being limited by the length of the slotted lever. The lever shown at b, in fig. 1, is bent o n its upper'end, so as. to clasp thc cross-bar of the spring, when elevated. The-lever in both forms is bent, so as properly to conform in its action to the spring. Thev cross-piece at the upper end catches under the shoulder on the upper end of the bait-hook. The length of the lever is properly adapted to the position of the hook, which may be so hung as to swing forward, and catch automatically'on the end of the lever.

The bait-hook is hung upon two crossed wires,4

which are fixed properly in the wood, and diverge sufficiently to hold the hook through which they` pass in suitable position, and prevent lateral movement,

having cavities and openings,

likely to take' place when one wire is used as a pivot.

The coiled ends of the spring are .fixed -to the trap as usual, but is further supported by the hoop b.4 This is formedof tin or any suitable thin metal, let into a circular slot or kerf, inclosing -t-hc coil and supporting and steadying the springs.

We are aware that it is not new to support springs vin a trap of this character, by sinking the coiled end into a circular central cavity, but our hoop fof thin metal set in the kerf is more'eliective and ot' cheaper construct-ion.- i

'It .will be observedthat the loops andslotted levers serve to hold both levers and springs in place, rendering it unnecessary tomanipnlate the lever,'while the loop serves' as a knob for the thumb in pushing down the spring. The whole isalso very cheaply made.

The bent form at b, fig. l', servesperhaps to hold .the spring more certainly, and leaves more roomfor the thumb on' the loop. l It will be readily vseen thatthis consti-notion facilitates the set-tingof the trap, it being'necessary merely to press down the spring, which can be done with one hand, while the other holds the'trap. The whole is also very little liable izo-get out of order. vThe exterior form of the trap is notesscntiai; it. may be" square or polygonal.v

Having thus fully. descrilied our invention,

-'-Wl1at we claim asl new, and desire to` secure by Letf 1. The combination o f a slotted lever f with the spring bow of a mouse-tmp, when the bowis provided with a suitable projection for the purpose of guiding 'the lever t'o the bait-hook, as described.

2. 1n combination with the slotted lever, the spe- -ciiic construction of' the loop on' the spring, as set forth.

3. The combination of the ring b with `the coiledendsof the springs, as described.

' .4. The trap described,'consis ting 'of the .block--` springs, bows with projection a, choking-straps, baitf hooksand` ring, when combined and arranged as-dev Thisspecication' signedv and witnessed this day of ANTHONY G. DAVIS. 'HENRY S.. FRO ST. 'Witnesses: v

01mm S. STARR, F. O. BowERs. 

